Coastal Bulacan was well populated at the time the Spanish arrived. Because of closeness to Manila, it became an important source of food and materials. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the friars acquired large estates that became the source of rice, fruit, livestock and vegetables for Manila. Bulacan was briefly occupied by British forces from Manila during the Seven Years War. The continued existence of large friar estates in Bulacan and neighbouring provinces spurred development of a propaganda movement. Francisco Baltazar (Balagtas), Marcelo H. del Pilar, Pio Valenzuela, and Mariano Ponce came from Bulacan. With the outbreak of the revolution for independence from Spain, Bulacan became one of the eight provinces that were placed under martial law for rebellion. Malolos became the capital of the First Republic of the Philippines in Janaury 1899, but was lost to the American forces in March 1899.

A civil government was established in 1901. Malolos is most well known for the part it played during the revolution for independence from Spain. Aguinaldo moved his government to Malolos in September 1898. The Malolos Congress convened in the Barasoain Church and the Malolos Constitution was created. Aguinaldo declared the First Republic of the Philippines and Malolos Constitution in January 1899. Malolos became the capital but was lost to the American forces in March the same year. Malolos officially became a city on October 8, 2002. The Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, where Emilio Aguinaldo's revolutionary government inaugurated a congress.

The church appears on the reverse side of the brown PHP 10 bill. This historical marker is one of two markers at the entrance to the church. A monument to General Emilio Aguinaldo, president of the First Republic of the Philippines. The Congress became known as the Malolos Congress and a constitution, the Malolos Constitution was declared in 1899. The Philippines was the first republic in Asia. The second historical marker which was placed by the University of the Philippines in recognition of the historical significance of the church the horse-drawn carriage that brought Aguinaldo to Malolos. The Malolos Congress was hindered and interrupted by the Philippine-American War.